--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is possible to speak concretely about…" description: "\"“It is possible to speak concretely about God's providnce only on the basis of the blood of the cross ... He who sees things this way will never succum..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/g-c-berkouwer-2-37471_blessings_it-is-possible-to-speak-concretely-about_2090693.jpg" --- # It is possible to speak concretely about God's providnce… ![“It is possible to speak concretely about God's providnce only on the basis of the blood of the cross ... He who sees things this way will never succumb to the temptation to identify prosperity with blessing and adversity with curse. In faith ... one can accept prosperity as the gift of God and…” quote by G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/g-c-berkouwer-2-37471_blessings_it-is-possible-to-speak-concretely-about_2090693.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/g-c-berkouwer-2-37471_blessings_it-is-possible-to-speak-concretely-about_2090693.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/g-c-berkouwer-2-37471_blessings_it-is-possible-to-speak-concretely-about_2090693.jpg) > ““It is possible to speak concretely about God's providnce only on the basis of the blood of the cross ... He who sees things this way will never succumb to the temptation to identify prosperity with blessing and adversity with curse. In faith ... one can accept prosperity as the gift of God and adversity as God's hand graciously leading him to faith.”” [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prosperity and adversity are both gifts from God; prosperity should not be equated with blessing, nor adversity with curse. **In simple terms:** Both good and bad experiences are divine gifts. Key Takeaway Accept all life events as part of God's plan. Themes faith theology prosperity adversity gratitude Mood thoughtful serene encouraging Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - financial success - health challenges - career setbacks - personal loss - spiritual growth Key Concepts gift divine providence humility Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern God’s purpose in success? - What practices keep you grounded during hardship? A Different Perspective Prosperity can still lead to pride if not tempered by humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blessings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessings/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Prosperity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prosperity/) ## Related quotes > [In prosperity God is heard, and that is a blessing; but in adversity God is seen, and that is a greater blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/in-prosperity-god-is-heard-and-that-is-a-blessing-but-in-adversity/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [In our adversity, God shouts to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-our-adversity-god-shouts-to-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/prosperity-is-the-blessing-of-the-old-testament-adversity-is-the-2/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [In all adversity, what God takes away He may give us back with increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bouverie-pusey/in-all-adversity-what-god-takes-away-he-may-give-us-back-with-increase/) [Edward Bouverie Pusey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bouverie-pusey/) > [Thoughts and words form your mental image. And since we become what we picture be sure your thoughts and words express prosperity and blessing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/thoughts-and-words-form-your-mental-image-and-since-we-become-what-we/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [“Prosperity is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New; which carrieth the greater benediction, and the clearer revelation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/prosperity-is-the-blessing-of-the-old-testament-adversity-is-the/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“In the arena of adversity, the Scriptures teach us three essential truths about God—truths we must believe if we are to trust Him in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/in-the-arena-of-adversity-the-scriptures-teach-us-three-essential/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“But the question is: Is this an appropriate use of this verse, to put God on the hook for a life of prosperity and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-j-bargerhuff/but-the-question-is-is-this-an-appropriate-use-of-this-verse-to-put/) [Eric J. Bargerhuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-j-bargerhuff/) > [I absolutely believe in the power of tithing and giving back. My own experience about all the blessings I've had in my life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-blanchard/i-absolutely-believe-in-the-power-of-tithing-and-giving-back-my-own/) [Ken Blanchard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-blanchard/) > [“A wise mother is the unifying force between father and children; her seed of love produces a harvest of trust.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agu-jaachynma-n-e/a-wise-mother-is-the-unifying-force-between-father-and-children-her/) [Agu Jaachynma N.E](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agu-jaachynma-n-e/) > [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [While the crash only took place six months ago, I am convinced we have now passed the worst, and with continued unity of effort,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/while-the-crash-only-took-place-six-months-ago-i-am-convinced-we-have/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, flood you with it. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-purpose-is-to-be-in-gratitude-forever-live-with-applied/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) ## More by G.C. Berkouwer > [“Faith is decisively determined by the object of faith, namely, God and His Word. This does not ... imply that Scripture ... derives its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/faith-is-decisively-determined-by-the-object-of-faith-namely-god-and/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“The perspective of Thomas' confession - 'My Lord and God' - must prevail through all our thinking and all our reinterpretations ... All reinterpretation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/the-perspective-of-thomas-confession-my-lord-and-god-must-prevail/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“A feeling of subjective certainty does not guarantee irrefutable certainty. It is not the certainty, but the truth in the certainty that makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/a-feeling-of-subjective-certainty-does-not-guarantee-irrefutable/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“The church may not function as a fearful border guard, but rather as one who brings good tidings (Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7 ... For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/the-church-may-not-function-as-a-fearful-border-guard-but-rather-as/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“The hesitations and doubts that are present at many points (in contemporary theology) do not in themselves indicate a deep final uncertainty, an alienation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/the-hesitations-and-doubts-that-are-present-at-many-points-in/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“Whoever reflects on the origin of sin cannot engage himself in a merely theoretical dispute; rather, he is engaged, intimately and personally, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/whoever-reflects-on-the-origin-of-sin-cannot-engage-himself-in-a-3/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“One cannot mount from reality to the righteousness of God, because reality can only be known through the explaining word of revelation. The Light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/one-cannot-mount-from-reality-to-the-righteousness-of-god-because/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“If apologetics becomes a fight over a system ... it becomes something very different from the 'giving an answer' for faith that the New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/if-apologetics-becomes-a-fight-over-a-system-it-becomes-something/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“There is room for a humble and courageous defence of Christianity. The combination of humility and courage is the combination that Christianity in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/there-is-room-for-a-humble-and-courageous-defence-of-christianity-the/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“Authority ... cannot be a darksome power that compels us to subject ourselves without reason ... Something happens in revelation that is totally different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/authority-cannot-be-a-darksome-power-that-compels-us-to-subject/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) > [“Theodicy ... what is involved is not a theoretical answer to the enigma of evil ... but an answer of faith ... God's being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-c-berkouwer-2/theodicy-what-is-involved-is-not-a-theoretical-answer-to-the-enigma/) [G.C. Berkouwer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) [Explore all 12 G.C. Berkouwer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-c-berkouwer-2/) ## More Blessings quotes > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [God loves to glorify himself by suspending his gifts and blessings on our asking him for them. We should never presume to receive from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-storms/god-loves-to-glorify-himself-by-suspending-his-gifts-and-blessings-on/) [Sam Storms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-storms/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Today we pray for those who are grieving the loss of their mother, maybe even years after they were separated; those who never knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/today-we-pray-for-those-who-are-grieving-the-loss-of-their-mother/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When Jesus finished teaching in a synagogue one day, a woman called out from the audience, 'God bless your mother—the womb from which you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bessey/when-jesus-finished-teaching-in-a-synagogue-one-day-a-woman-called/) [Sarah Bessey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-bessey/) > [“I've never felt a pain that didn't bear a blessing. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-knudsen-hoffman/i-ve-never-felt-a-pain-that-didn-t-bear-a-blessing/) Gene Knudsen Hoffman > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [Life is such a very troublesome matter, when all is said and done, that it's as well even to take its blessings quietly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-braddon/life-is-such-a-very-troublesome-matter-when-all-is-said-and-done-that/) [Mary Elizabeth Braddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-braddon/) > [Here today, may be gone tomorrow! Never take anyone or nothing for granted! Be sure to count your blessing daily because tomorrow isn't promised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surgeo-bell/here-today-may-be-gone-tomorrow-never-take-anyone-or-nothing-for/) [Surgeo Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surgeo-bell/) > [Everyone is blessed in some way or the other. My greatest blessing? My mom! I love you Mom. I just want you to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-is-blessed-in-some-way-or-the-other-my-greatest-blessing-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I definitely count my blessings. I feel like I've had such a great ride. Early on, to be able to work with some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/i-definitely-count-my-blessings-i-feel-like-i-ve-had-such-a-great/) [Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I feel that I'm very blessed. But with great blessings come great responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-feel-that-i-m-very-blessed-but-with-great-blessings-come-great/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [He had a face like a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/he-had-a-face-like-a-blessing/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) [Browse all 3,464 Blessings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blessings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is possible to speak concretely about God's providnce only on the basis of the blood of the cross ... He who sees things this way will never succumb to the temptation to identify prosperity with blessing and adversity with curse. In faith ... one can accept prosperity as the gift of God and adversity as God's hand graciously leading him to faith.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "G.C. 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